CAIRO: Egypt has urged both Hamas and Israel to show flexibility in efforts to reach a ceasefire.

The official Middle East News Agency reports the message was relayed to an Israeli security official who met with Egypt s powerful intelligence chief, Omar Suleiman, to discuss the truce.

Amos Gilad, who heads the Israeli defense ministry s political-security branch, flew to Egypt on Sunday for talks with Suleiman.

MENA says Suleiman is trying to bridge the gap in positions of both sides.

A bid by Egypt to broker a ceasefire between Hamas and Israel has faltered after the Palestinian group failed to secure a pledge to lift an Israeli-imposed blockade on Gaza. -AP